A Review of the Insect Pests Of
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University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 1937 A review of the insect pests of elm,: with a detailed study of the biology of the native elm bark beetle (Hylurgopinus rufipes Eich) William Bernard Becker University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses Becker, William Bernard, "A review of the insect pests of elm,: with a detailed study of the biology of the native elm bark beetle (Hylurgopinus rufipes Eich)" (1937). Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014. 1307. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses/1307 This thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. a moyiKw (m 'HiE pBiH pests of elm, WFlH A DETAILED STUD'V OF BiOLOGY §f THE NATIVE ELM BARK BEETLE, KYUJKCOPINUS RUF1PES E1CH, BECKER - 1937 [ Mor LD 3?34 M268 193? ' B3968 cop . 2 J DATE DUE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARY MORR LD 3234 M268 1937 B3968 cop. 2 with a Detailed A Review of the Insect Pests of Elm, Study of the Biology of the Native Elm Bark Beetle, Hylurgopinus ruf ipes Eich. By William B. Becker Graduate School Thesis to the Faculty of the Submitted as a Requirement for the In Partial Fulfillment of the Degree of Master of Science Massachusetts State college June 1937 CONTENTS Page Introduction 1 Importance of Elms Importance of Insects attacking Elms 6 Recorded Insect Pests of Elm 8 Relation of Bark 3eetles to Fungous Diseases 17 Hylurgopinus rufipes Eich 19 Description and Synonoray * 19 Recorded Host Plants ..*. 19 Distribution 20 Relationship to the Dutcn Elm Disease 20 Methods and Technique 22 Studies of Adults 22 Hibernating Adults 22 Spring Emergence 22 Summer Emergence * 22 Studies of Eggs 24 Studies of Larvae 24 Studies of Pupae 24 Studies of Parasites 25 Records of the Physical Environment 25 Studies of Host Materials 25 Life History and Habits • 25 Host Preference 25 Hibernation 26 Adult Hibernation 27 Larval Hibernation Brood Galleries • Egg Galleries 33 Larval Galleries 35 Adult Emergence 36 Activities after Emergence • 38 Reproductive Potential 40 Associated Arthropods • 41 Summary 45 Conclusions • 48 Or Bibliography 49 CO cr> ««# ca CD ZD ITS. INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study is to gain a better knowledge of the life history and habits of the native elm bark beetle, Hylurgopinus rufipes Eich*, in order to determine the proba- bility of it becoming an important vector of Ceratostomella ulmi, the causal organism of the Dutch elm disease* Little information has been available regarding the life history and habits of this beetle which, before the introduction of the Dutch elm disease, was considered of only secondary importance because it was not known to attack healthy trees* Now that the Dutch elm disease is established on this continent, the beetle comes under suspicion as a possible vector, for it breeds in weakened and recently killed elms, some of which may harbor Ceratostomella ulmi in localities where the Dutch elm disease exists, later attacking other elms for feeding and egg-laying purposes* In fact, when its habits are compared with those of the closely related but introduced European elm bark beetle, Scolytus multistriatus Marsh*, which make it the most important vector of the disease in this country, the two are found to be similar. Scolytus multistriatus ha3 been associated with Ceratostomella ulmi in Europe for a number of years and the relationship between them has been studied extensively. The native species only came in contact, with the disease after the latter was Introduced into this country about 1930 and the relationship has not been studied to the same extent. However, . it has been shown experimentally that adults of Hylurgopinus ruf lpes from diseased elms can carry the spores, and the fungus has been recovered from the new galleries made by those beetles in previously non-infected logs (Collins, Buchanan, Whitten, and Hoffman, 1936; Britton, 1935; Clinton and Mccormick, 1935) IMPORTANCE OF ELiJS There are six species of elms indigenous to the United States which attain tree size. Three of these are of first importance as ornamentals or producers of lumber. They are the American or Shite Elm ( Ulmus amerlcana Linn.), the Red or Slippery Elm (U. fulva Michaux), and the Rock or Cork Elm (JJ. raceinosa Thomas). The other three native species are of minor importance and occur in the South. These are the r/inged 2lm (M* alata Michaux), Cedar Elm (U. crasslfolla Nuttall), and Red or September Elm (U» serotina Sargent). In addition, several other species of elms have been introduced into this country from abroad. The natural distribution of the six native species is outlined by Sudworth (1927) as follows: " Ulmus amerlcana Linn. From southern Newfoundland to Lake Superior (north shore) and to the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains (here up the Saskatchewan River to latitude 54° 30"); south to Florida (Desoto County); west to North Dakota (Turtle Mountains), South Dakota (Black Hills), western Nebraska, central Kansas, Oklahoma, southwestern Arkansas (Rich fountain), and Texas (coke County). w Ulmus racemosa Thomas. From Quebec (eastern townships) throu;n Ontario, and south through northwestern New Hampshire to southern Vermont; and to northern New Jersey; westward through northern New York; southern Michigan, central Wisconsin (Lake Mendota, near Madison), and southwestern Minnesota to north- eastern Nebraska (Meadville), western Missouri, eastern Kansas, and middle Tennessee. " Ulmus fulva Michaux. From Lower St. Lawrence River (Orleans Island) through Ontario to South Dakota and eastern Nebraska, southeastern Kansas, southwestern Arkansas, and • Oklahoma; south to western Florida, central Alabama, and Mississippi, western Louisiana and Texas (Kerr and Comal Counties) ififhaux. From southern Virginia Florida"BSKn to central (Lake County), and from southern Illinois and through Indiana western Kentucky and Tennessee to the Gulf, through and west southern Missouri, Arkansas, eastern Oklahoma, and Texas (Guadaloupa River). "MiS. crassifolia Nuttall. From Mississippi (sunflower River) througn southern Arkansas and Texas (from coast to the Pecos River) to Mexico (Huevo Leon). "Ul£]H£ serotina Sargent. Range imperfectly known at present; known now, at different stations, only from southern Kentucky and Tennessee to northeastern Georgia, northern Alabama, northwestern and southwestern Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma; southern Illinois (Richland County)." The most important of the native elms is the American elm, Ulama amerlcana . It has been planted extensively over its natural range and has been introduced onto the west coast as an ornamental shade tree. People prefer it over many other shade trees because of its deliquescent form which throws a moderate shade over the ground, yet leaves enough space beneath its branches for free movements of air and traffic. It also permits the suburban type of home with peaked roof to be erected beneath the arches formed by branches of adjacent elms. Because of these and other characteristics of growth and adaptability to street, park and lawn planting, Fernow (Herrick,1935) rates it as one of the most valuable of the common shade trees in the country. Numerous shade tree authorities and literary people praise our elms, many pointing out the beauty of elm-shaded New England villages and historical elms scattered over the country. some . Barraclough (1935) persons place a monetary value on them. limits in New valuates the estimated 100,000 elms within town that 50,000 Hampshire at |3,000,000. Curtis May (1934) says represent elms in only five cities in northern New Jersey and real thousands of dollars invested in planting, care, calls the American elm estate values- Michaux (Illick,1924) the Temperate Zone. One toe most magnificent "vegetable" of visualizing the may realize the importance of our elms by This fact is appearance of the country stripped of them. and Michigan, where especially true of New England, New York, their best growth (Mul ford, 1926) the elms are said to attain IiSPORTANCE OF INSECTS ATTACKING ELHS highest in Although the American elm ia ranked among the twentieth by Howard in shade tree value by Fernow, it is placed trees rated on the basis of a list of twenty-six common shade rating is 1.25. resistance to insect attack. Its valuated to insect attack are Those trees showing the highest resistance least resistance to insect given a rating of 3.0; those showing The low resistance attack are rated at 0.10 (Herrick.1955) . insect-borne plant disease like of elms favors the spread of an feeding Insects may defoliate an the Dutch elm disease. Leaf and thereby reduce its vitality elm for a few consecutive years insects may attack it. Information so that wood and bark-boring date suggests that elm available on the Dutch elm disease to of the disease. A study of bark beetles are the chief vectors this is possible. their bark homing habits shows why of each individual species The breeding and feeding habits importance as a vector of a disease. of insect determines its contact considered are the degree of Among the factors to be portions of the tree, the the insect has with the diseased to needed for toe insect's attack condition of toe host which is attacks the tree, toe number of occur, toe manner in which it toe abundance of the insect, generations produced each year, on both the physical and biotic environment and therffect of toe essential point causina the disease. An insect and the organism insects as estimating the importance of to be considered when causal organism vectors of disease is: to what extent can the other possible agents of the disease be spread by the wind and the insects? It should of dissemination without the help of emerge from a diseased be remembered that when the insects are substituting the tree and attack a healthy tree, they innoculation method for the direct and highly successful wound When the fungous «hit and miss" wind dispersal method.